Kesher Talk

Breaking bad news: Seven people were killed and 15 injured Tuesday after terrorists detonated a roadside bomb near an armored bus and sprayed gunfire on fleeing passengers outside the West Bank community of Emanuel, police and military officials said. The bomb went off just 200 meters from the site of a guard post at the entrance to the settlement, as the Dan No. 189 passed by, shortly before 3 p.m. local time. Shooting then followed, said police spokesman Rafi Yaffe.

Medics at the scene quoted the injured as saying that after the initial explosion, several smaller ones went off, or grenades were thrown, followed by shooting. The bus had left Bnai Brak, near Tel Aviv at about 2 p.m., for the mostly orthodox community of Emanuel, near Nablus. The bus was an armor-coated vehicle protected against bomb attacks, Israel Radio said. Witnesses said that three attackers were dressed in Israel army uniforms and escaped in the direction of Nablus. Soldiers gave chase after them as helicopters searched from above. (AP)

UPDATE: An eighth victim was added to the roster of death. A baby, delivered by Caesarean section following the attack, died from complications. The baby's mother was seriously wounded in the attack.

Some brilliant deduction from Finland: A car bomb exploded approximately 200 meters from a synagogue in central Helsinki today, killing a Finnish man and injuring another, police said. The explosion, at about 6:50 a.m. , shattered the windows on three floors of Hotel Helka but none of the guests was injured, hotel staff said.

The car bomb may not be related to the current Middle East security crisis, Detective Chief Inspector Olli Toyras told The Associated Press. "We are treating this as an isolated incident," said Detective Chief Inspector Olli Toyras. "We don't believe there are any terrorism or political links."

There are approximately 900 Jews currently living in Helsinki. The synagogue, erected in 1906 and the adjoined Community Center, finished in 1961 are located in the city center.

posted by Howard @ 7/16/2002 04:22:27 PM